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Fergie: Time to be great

By Lewis Rutledge

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his players not to throw away all their good work.

Sir Alex Ferguson has urged his Manchester United players not to throw away all their good work in the last few weeks of the season.

United have enjoyed a superb season and earned recognition at last Sunday's PFA awards, when eight players from the club were named in the Premiership Team of the Year and Cristiano Ronaldo won both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.

But Ferguson believes the true test for his side will be how they play over the next month, as they compete for the Premiership, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League.

"The PFA awards were a great night for Ronaldo and a great night for the club," he said in the Daily Star.

"But they were voted for in February and only tell you what's been happening up until then.

"What we have to do now is be great in April and May. That's the time to be great."

Ferguson feels United deserve to claim some silverware this term and is confident his players will hold their nerve.

"You have to win things to be regarded as great and, without wishing to tempt fate, I think we will end up with a trophy," he predicted.

"I certainly hope so because the way the players are performing right now, I think they deserve to have something to show for the season.

"If the players don't smell the scent of something big in their lives now then they never will. It's a great opportunity for them.

"Every match feels like a cup final now, but I wouldn't have it any other way because this is what it's all about, big games on the last lap of the season."

Meanwhile, fears are growing that Park Ji-sung could be facing an extended spell on the sidelines.

According to reports in the English press, the midfielder has flown to America for an appointment with knee surgeon Dr Richard Steadman and will be operated on in the coming days.

The South Korean has not played since the end of March and if he undergoes surgery reports suggest he could be out for up to a year.